GDrive: The Platypus Awakes; Maybe

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Google’s long rumored but never delivered online storage product GDrive (code name Platypus) may finally be on its way, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The continued no-show of the fabled Google online storage product was best parodied in an internal Google video that leaked in August, where a Google employee wrote of the service “I’ve been ready to launch my product since 2002 … At least round here 5 years ain’t so long overdue.”

Our coverage stretches back to May 2006 with references to “Google Drive,” “a place for users to store 100% of their data online” in a company presentation and in October 2006 there was a confirmed GDrive client being used by Google employees.

There isn’t a lot new in the Wall Street Journal report that hasn’t been said of the service previously, with the exception of product related tie-ins to existing (but relatively new) Google services such as Google Docs, and also mention of access via mobile phones as well. The Journal suggests that the service could be launched “as early as a few months from now.”

Google has long since lost first mover status in online storage, with a range of startups competing against Microsoft, AOL and even Apple (with dotmac) in providing online storage space. GDrive though is a natural fit amongst Google’s range of products, particularly at a time it is pitching its services to small business. An online storage product at the right price fits well with Google Apps packages and may also find favor with Google’s increasing base of internet service providers using Google products as a value add to customers.

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Crunchbase

OverviewGoogle is a multinational corporation that is specialized in internet-related services and products. The company’s product portfolio includes Google Search, which provides users with access to information online; Knowledge Graph that allows users to search for things, people, or places as well as builds systems recognizing speech and understanding natural language; Google Now, which provides information …